Costa del Sol’s Malaga Will Offer a €100 Voucher to Spain’s Medical Staff to Say Thank You and Foment Tourism on The Coast

The tourism sector in the Costa del Sol has come up with a solidary and ingenious idea to bring back activity to Malaga, as the province has followed Italy’s lead and agreed to subsidise 25,000 stays in hotels to attract the national tourist market.

NOW that international and foreign tourism is practically out of the question, until further notice, most administrations are working tirelessly to come up with an attractive plan which will entice the national tourist market to come and spend their holidays in their city.

This is the case of the Provincial Council of Malaga who has focused on subsidising 25,000 hotel stays which will be offered to health professionals all over Spain. This is in some ways a replica of one of Italy’s most striking measures in which the Italian government allocated €2.5 million to foment tourism in some of its worst affected areas.

The second vice president, and head of the Economic and Administrative Management Area in Malaga, Margarita del Cid, stated that this investment would be translated through the use of €100 vouchers which are distributed to health professionals for them to use in certain hotels for a minimum of three nights and with a bed and breakfast board.

“Without a doubt, this is a great incentive aimed at a group that deserves it the most and that, assuredly, will take advantage of this opportunity and get to know Malaga,” said the popular party leader at a press conference in which she outlined the axes of Malaga’s plan in the Economic and Administrative Management Area.

Del Cid firmly stated that the “reactivation” of tourism is “one of the greatest goals,” and warned that she would not allow any institutions putting an end to the tourist season.

“One factor is the limitations imposed by the health crisis, and another is to take advantage of this situation to try to impose ideological issues that have little to do with the reality and economic need of our province,” she argued, and reminded listeners to the importance of the tourism sector “for the creation of employment and wealth in the province.”

However, this is not the only action included in the Malaga Plan, as Tourism Costa del Sol projects an investment of €10.87 million in promotional actions aimed especially at attracting the national market.

Margarita del Cid considers that “the best people who should manage the funds allocated towards dealing with this crisis are the local administrations, as these are the closest to the citizens, and are the ones who know what each municipality needs and requires.”

In order for this essential tourism aid to reach the municipalities as soon as possible -Margarita considers that- “it is essential that the plan be approved as soon as possible.”

In total, the municipalities will receive €70 million, of which €52.5 million will be direct transfers and the other €17.5 million will be arranged once the agreement is modified so that this part can be used as unconditional funds. However, some of this aid comes with a condition: creating jobs.

“Through this aid, we intend to reactivate the economy of the municipalities,” said Margarita del Cid, who noted that alongside these actions, there is an additional plan with a budget of €65 million being contemplated.

The second vice president has emphasised the €17 million in the Plan is for the Promotion of Agrarian Employment, “which has undoubtedly been a shock to the economy of the municipalities of the interior”; and another €4.9 million is allocated to hydraulic infrastructures in the Antequera region. The institution will also invest €1.8 million to advance the completion of the Senda Litoral; and two others for the Via-ble Plan.

“More and better tourism, more liquidity for all the municipalities; all of this focused on a single purpose, which is that the province of Malaga can resume the economic rhythm that typically characterise it as soon as possible and this involves the creation of employment and opportunities for all” concluded the vice president.